CCTV footage captures 70 incidents of donation theft at Shri Ram Temple !

Accused seen concealing bundles of currency notes in their pockets and shoes

Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) – A preliminary report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Shri Ram Temple donation theft case has revealed that around 70 suspicious incidents were captured on CCTV footage between 27 April and 5 June. The footage allegedly shows the eight accused, who have since been arrested, concealing bundles of currency notes in their pockets and shoes.

The report states that Dr Anil Mishra, a trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, was responsible for lapses in the existing inspection system. It further alleges that Tinnu, the driver of the Trust’s General Secretary Champat Rai, kept the key to the counting room in his possession without any authorisation. It also states that Tinnu secured the appointment of his nephew, Manish Yadav, to the donation-counting work through his recommendation.

Key findings of the SIT report

1. The entire donation-counting process was flawed. Dr Anil Mishra was responsible for overseeing financial transactions and cash collection. He also played a key role in formulating the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the agreed protocols with the bank.

2. Dr Mishra had been informed through internal channels that employees engaged in counting donations were not being frisked. Despite receiving this information, he did not issue any effective written orders. The report also states that the previously approved frisking system was not implemented because of his inaction.

3. No concrete steps were taken to introduce systems such as biometric attendance for employees, a mandatory uniform, a ban on carrying personal belongings into the counting room, proper documentation of donation boxes and the cash removed from them, or the preparation of daily reports.